No Luck Against The Irish, Notre Dame Tops Clemson 89-83

By Associated Press

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Zach Auguste scored 19 points and had eight rebounds to lead Notre Dame to an 89-83 win over Clemson on Monday night.

The win keeps the Fighting Irish (17-7, 8-4 Atlantic Coast) in line to finish in the top four seeds at the ACC tournament and get a double bye.

Notre Dame never trailed, but Clemson (14-10, 7-5) kept it close for most of the game. The Fighting Irish were up 50-47 when Clemson’s Donte Grantham was called for a charge on a close call driving to the basket.

Notre Dame scored on 11 of its next 12 possessions. Auguste had three baskets on powerful inside moves and the Irish hit five 3-pointers as the lead ballooned to 77-64.

Demetrius Jackson scored 17 points and V.J. Beachem added 15 points for the Irish.

Jaron Blossomgame scored a career-best 30 for the Tigers, who likely fell all the way off the NCAA tournament bubble. Their chances of climbing back on with an impressive win are dwindling. Five of Clemson’s last six regular season games are against teams in the bottom four of the ACC.

Auguste dominated despite foul trouble in the first half. He and his teammates also frustrated Clemson’s big men. Starting center Landry Nnoko was 0-for-1 with three points and four rebounds in 28 minutes. His backup, Sidy Djitte, was 1-for-3 with two points and one rebound. He had four fouls in 10 minutes.

Notre Dame also started out the game hot, getting back-to-back 3-poiners from Beachem, a layup by Auguste and another 3 from Jackson to take a 11-2 lead just over four minutes into the game.

It was Clemson’s first ACC loss in its home-away-from-home in Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Center.

TIP INS

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish turned the ball over five times Monday, with none coming in the second half. They lead the country averaging just 9.2 turnovers a game and lost the ball only two times in last week’s 80-76 win over North Carolina … The Irish made 21 of 25 free throws after shooting 31-of-38 from the foul line against the Tar Heels.

Clemson: The Tigers made10 of 20 3-pointers. … The Irish remain the only current ACC team Clemson has not beaten. The Tigers are now 0-4 against Notre Dame.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame hosts No. 13 Louisville on Saturday.

Clemson hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday.